Sunday, October 03, 2004

Bonus Prospect Report

Here's what you need to know. He came into 2004 with a career minor league line of .300/.402/.528, and he hit .290/.376/.533 this season in Portland. He's old for a prospect, and he struck out 110 times. But he can hit. He slugged 26 home runs and drew 58 walks in 435 at bats. Also of note is that while the PCL still has a lot of extreme hitters parks, Portland is a big pitcher's park

He's not a good defensive outfielder. But if you need a DH, 1B, or LF who can hit, there are a whole lot of less savory options out there. He's as ready as he'll ever be, and while he's not going to be a star (don't expect him to follow in Travis Hafner's footsteps), he'll be above league average right now. Teams like the Braves, Orioles, and Mets should be keeping him in mind for next season.